12-year-old Padmanabh 'crowned' Jaipur's new maharaja

The 'raj tilak' took place on the 12th day of mourning following the demise of Bhawai Singh on April 16 at the age of 80 at a hospital in Gurgaon.

According to traditions of the royal family, the solemn yet elegant ceremony was attended by members of the former princely states besides prominent citizens of Jaipur.

Bhawani Singh, who had no son, had adopted his daughter's elder son Padmanabh in 2002, when he was a five years old.

This afternoon, Padmanabh, dressed in a white 'achkan' walked in the royal procession at the 'coronation' ceremony attended among others by Rajasthan Health Minister A A Khan, Speaker Dipendra Singh Shekhawat, former Union minister and actor Vinod Khanna.

The ceremony was performed by 'rajpurohit' Brijlal Kishan and 'acharya' Dilip Sharma, who chanted Vedic mantras. After the 'coronation' the young maharaja also took a guard of honour.

The flag that was on half mast was hoisted again on the palace amid sounding of drums.Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, and Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh also visited the palace during the day.

Born to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and his first wife Marudhar Kanwar of Jodhpur, Sawai Bhawani Singh had married Princess Padmini Devi in 1966.

The royal couple have a daughter Princess Diya Kumari. Singh had adopted Padmanabh -- the son of Diya and son-in-law Narendra Singh.

Besides the throne, Padmanabh will also inherit legal disputes plaguing the royal properties.

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